Few breakfast combos stir up comfort-food cravings quite like biscuits and gravy—but not all versions are worth the calories. Some restaurant chains deliver buttery, flaky biscuits drenched in savory, sausage-studded gravy that tastes like grandma made it. Others? They serve up dry dough bombs with bland, pasty gravy that feels more punishment than pleasure. Whether you’re hunting down a satisfying Southern-style breakfast or trying to avoid a plate of regret, we’ve got you covered. Here are 6 chains serving heavenly biscuits and gravy—and 6 you should never order again unless you like your mornings starting with disappointment instead of delight.
1. Bojangles
Bojangles elevates biscuits and gravy to an art form with their scratch-made buttermilk biscuits that practically melt in your mouth. The magic happens when these golden pillows meet their rich, peppery sausage gravy loaded with substantial meat chunks.
Regulars swear by the perfect balance of buttery biscuit to savory gravy ratio. Each bite delivers that authentic Southern flavor profile that’s increasingly hard to find in chain restaurants.
Founded in North Carolina in 1977, Bojangles remains true to its Southern roots by continuing to hand-make their biscuits fresh throughout the day, ensuring that no matter when you visit, biscuit perfection awaits.
2. Bob Evans
Morning glory arrives on a plate at Bob Evans, where farm-fresh biscuits baked daily become the foundation for a truly memorable breakfast. Their biscuits strike that perfect balance between flaky exterior and soft interior, creating the ideal canvas for their hearty sausage gravy.
What sets Bob Evans apart is their commitment to quality ingredients. The gravy features generous portions of savory sausage in a creamy base that’s seasoned to perfection – not too peppery, not too bland.
For the full experience, regulars recommend pairing this comforting classic with their crispy home fries and farm-fresh eggs for a breakfast that feels like it came straight from a country kitchen.
3. Waffle House
Around the clock, Waffle House delivers comfort food that hits the spot, especially with their straightforward yet satisfying biscuits and gravy. The beauty lies in their consistency – buttery, golden biscuits that provide the perfect foundation for their thick, savory gravy.
Watching the cooks prepare your meal adds to the experience, as they ladle that signature gravy generously over open-faced biscuits. The gravy strikes all the classic notes of Southern tradition with just the right amount of black pepper and sausage throughout.
Pro tip: True Waffle House aficionados know to ask for a side of hash browns (scattered and smothered) to soak up any extra gravy – nothing should go to waste when it’s this good!
4. IHOP
IHOP might be pancake royalty, but their biscuits and gravy deserve a crown of their own. Serving up consistently fluffy biscuits under a blanket of creamy sausage gravy, they’ve mastered this breakfast classic with surprising finesse for a pancake-focused chain.
What makes their version stand out is how well it integrates with their full breakfast plates. The gravy’s creamy texture complements the biscuits without making them soggy, while the sausage adds just enough savory flavor to balance the meal.
Customers particularly enjoy how IHOP pairs their biscuits and gravy with golden hash browns and perfectly cooked eggs, creating a complete breakfast experience that satisfies even the heartiest morning appetite.
5. First Watch
A refreshing approach to the traditionally indulgent biscuits and gravy, First Watch offers a lighter, more health-conscious version. Their warm buttermilk biscuits provide the perfect base for turkey sausage gravy – a clever protein swap that cuts calories without sacrificing flavor.
The gravy maintains a rich, creamy texture while delivering a cleaner taste profile that lets the herbs and seasonings shine through. Accompanied by their perfectly seasoned potatoes and farm-fresh eggs, this dish satisfies comfort food cravings without the usual heaviness.
Frequent diners appreciate First Watch’s commitment to quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation, making this a guilt-free way to enjoy a Southern classic during their daytime-only service hours.
6. Denny’s
Denny’s takes biscuits and gravy to new heights with their innovative Chicken Biscuit & Gravy Bowl. Breaking from tradition, they combine crispy chicken tenders, melted cheddar cheese, and scrambled eggs with rich country gravy atop fluffy buttermilk biscuits.
The contrasting textures make this dish a standout – crispy chicken against soft biscuits, all unified by that creamy, peppery gravy. The addition of cheddar adds a sharp flavor note that cuts through the richness perfectly.
Available around the clock like most Denny’s offerings, this hearty bowl has become a fan favorite for both breakfast enthusiasts and comfort food seekers looking for something beyond the basic biscuits and gravy experience.
7. Cracker Barrel
Despite Cracker Barrel’s rustic atmosphere that creates high expectations for their biscuits and gravy, they unfortunately fall flat on the plate. Many customers report consistently dry, crumbly biscuits that crumble apart before they can soak up any gravy.
The gravy itself presents another letdown – often lacking proper seasoning and sufficient sausage, resulting in a bland, flour-heavy taste. What should be a signature dish for a restaurant with rocking chairs on the porch instead becomes a cautionary tale.
Numerous online reviews echo similar disappointments, with many loyal Cracker Barrel fans admitting they skip the biscuits and gravy entirely in favor of their pancakes or hash brown casserole – a telling sign for this supposedly Southern-focused chain.
8. Black Bear Diner
Black Bear Diner’s massive menu and wilderness-themed atmosphere suggest hearty portions, making their skimpy biscuits and gravy serving particularly disappointing. Customers consistently report receiving overly dry, dense biscuits that seem more like hockey pucks than the fluffy treats pictured in their menu.
The gravy situation doesn’t improve matters – often served in such small portions that it barely covers half the biscuits. When you do get a bite with gravy, it frequently lacks flavor depth and proper seasoning, tasting more like thickened milk than proper country gravy.
For a restaurant known for generous portions across their menu, this particular dish stands out as an unfortunate exception that leaves diners both underwhelmed and still hungry.
9. Broken Yolk Cafe
Broken Yolk Cafe’s biscuits and gravy suffer from quality issues that make this breakfast staple nearly inedible. Customers frequently mention an odd, chemical-like aftertaste that lingers unpleasantly after each bite, suggesting issues with either ingredients or preparation methods.
Texture problems compound the flavor issues, with gravy often described as unnaturally lumpy and inconsistent. The biscuits themselves lack proper flakiness, instead presenting a dense, undercooked center that contrasts poorly with slightly burned exteriors.
Given the cafe’s reputation for other quality breakfast offerings, their failure with this Southern classic is particularly surprising. Many diners recommend sticking to their egg specialties and avoiding this disappointing menu item entirely.
10. Hardee’s
Hardee’s famous made-from-scratch biscuits create false hope that quickly disappears once their lackluster gravy makes contact. The biscuits themselves deserve praise – consistently flaky, buttery, and fresh throughout the day – making the gravy’s shortcomings all the more tragic.
The gravy consistently disappoints with its watery consistency and severe lack of sausage pieces. When you do find meat, it’s often sparse and lacking proper seasoning, creating an unbalanced, flour-forward taste that misses the mark completely.
Many customers report asking for extra gravy hoping for more flavor, only to receive more of the same bland sauce. This creates a frustrating experience where half of the equation works perfectly while the other half fails completely.
11. Hash House A Go Go
Hash House A Go Go built its reputation on enormous portions, but bigger isn’t better when it comes to their biscuits and gravy. Their oversized biscuits often arrive tough and dense rather than flaky, creating an exhausting eating experience that requires excessive knife work just to cut through.
The gravy suffers from inconsistency issues – sometimes watery and thin, other times gloopy and paste-like. Either way, it frequently lacks proper seasoning and sufficient sausage, creating a bland canvas that fails to complement the already problematic biscuits.
For a restaurant that charges premium prices for their oversized portions, the quality shortcomings make this particular dish a poor value proposition compared to their more successful menu items.
12. McDonald’s
Limited regional offering of biscuits and gravy in McDonald’s exemplifies why some fast food items remain regional rather than going nationwide. Available only in select Southern markets, this breakfast option consistently ranks among their most disappointing menu items.
The biscuits typically arrive doughy and undercooked, lacking the flaky texture essential to proper biscuits. Meanwhile, the gravy presents as a pale, thin substance with minimal sausage presence and a flavor profile best described as “bland with hints of salt.”
Even dedicated McDonald’s fans acknowledge this dish falls short, often recommending their biscuit breakfast sandwiches instead. When a fast food giant known for consistency can’t get this Southern staple right, it’s best to seek your biscuits and gravy elsewhere.
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